SPRING FASHIONS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 568, 24 July 1909, Page 11

SPRING FASHIONS.

(By "Queen Boe" in tho "Australasian.") Much nice taste is once again creeping into the fashions of the near future. We have been told that the. pointed bodice and the wasp waist are only a matter of time, but eo far there are no indications of their reappearance, On the contrary, the best-dressed women already have during the present season ignored all forms'of tight-lacine, and as a result hare never looted so natural or been : more graceful in their movements., This effect has been so general at all large social gatherings that the .appearance of a" woman'with a wasp figure has had quite a startling influence on' those about her.. i. The straight outline of the medieval style of dress now the vogue makes distinctly for comfort, as well as grace. . The waist-line, of these, dresses is much lower than it has been for some time, although. still not quite in its natural place. The tunic has become one of the smartest/additions to yrcsent-day dressing, both for evening a}id day gowns. Next to the tunic comes the coat.. 1 There is no dciubt this garment has become quite a work of 1 art, because it now accompanies almost every drees >. that is made, so that every, coat has to b« fashioned on different 'lines. Numbers are quite long; others short, and others again very ' short, almost resembling'a stylish coatee .01 fitted mantlet But all ■ are loose, so that a supple and graoeful figure is invariablyproduced. ' . ■■■'■." '■ ■ , , . ■ ■ Not so very long ago it would have been considered impossible to construct a, coat of the materials now in use. Yet tlie most sensationally beautiful .effects are wrought; from soft. silks, satins, and shantungs, to say'nothing of net, lace, tulle, and other transparent textures. Some of these have sleeves, but just as many are made without any. Lovely' handembroideries and applique work are lavished op these coats, which often only act as a veil- 1 ing for the clinging outline of tho dress, the whole idea being most charming. v The new 1 colours, which are much brighter, too, greatly help these new schemes in dressing, for, although often very daring,' they are always most harmonious. • , . - Such picturesque dressing requires'' many; small accessories'to complote the-picture. No end of taste and skill are given to the details of rieck wear; • Jabots and cravates have become deep ruffles, that havo a very, .dressy effect whon worn with ooats and. skirts ofv firm texture. .They are also attached to blouses that are worn with skirts' alone. Such blouses are very smart' wheu .simply, made , of. net, set in, wide or narrow pleats, the long,. pleated Tuffle giving a stylish", finishing touch, The present development of evening dress : continues very clinging, but the waist-line is decidedly longer, and'the tunic greatly aids in relieving the sharp, outlines; of-the figure. Very few women will receive - this new mode in hair-dressing with opep arms. In'the usual way, -wo! are going from one extreme to/the other. The Paris woman, ?who always leads the way, is making her head, look, as small aa sho possibly can.' Pads have quite "disappeared, and very, little orimping: is done. At the back the hair is dressed in bhignon fashion, while between it and the front there is a wide: plait, arranged'very much on the line of a bandage. Those who have spare locks call in outside aid, ; which usually is very costly. There are, however, many pretty, substitutes, for the plait, that', are;very becoming to the/young, such 'as 'crescent-shaped bands of. brilliants, dull'gold ones,. thickly 6tudded with artificial stones or . pearl'si' : These; are fixed on at the ears'by round plaques that almost cover them. Fortunately,' the present style of millinery will necessitate the hair, .being worn', fairly ' large and full for somo' time to come, although modifications' are already apparent.. ; , / .